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US Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign reportedly allocated substantial funds to organisations led by media personalities prior to conducting interviews with them.
According to federal election commission (FEC) documents, initially reported by the Washington Free Beacon, Harris' campaign transferred two $250,000 donations to Rev Al Sharpton's non-profit organisation in September and October.
Harris participated in an amicable discussion with the MSNBC presenter on October 20, during which he enquired about her desired legacy five decades hence.
A significant New York Times report disclosed that Sharpton wasn't the sole media figure whose organisation received campaign funds before an interview.
FEC records, as reported by the Times, show the campaign transferred $50,000 to Nu Vision Media on September 9.
Nu Vision Media, operated by journalist Roland Martin, facilitated a thirty-minute interview with Harris on his streaming platform in October.
Martin, previously associated with CNN, informed the Times the payment was for promotional purposes.
"It should have been a hell of a lot more," he said, according to the report. "More should have been spent on Black-owned media."
The Free Beacon reported that Harris' campaign distributed $5.4 million to Black and Latino advocacy groups to strengthen these voter demographics in her coalition.
These expenditure revelations emerge amid heightened scrutiny of Harris' campaign's $1.5 billion spending during her brief presidential bid.
The Times investigation revealed that pre-election rallies featuring celebrities cost upwards of $10 million. Whilst performers weren't compensated, support personnel received payment.
FEC documents indicate two $500,000 payments to Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions on October 15, following Winfrey's town hall with Harris and preceding their joint Philadelphia rally.
Harris' associates informed the Times that the complete cost of the Winfrey event approached $2.5 million. A representative from Harpo Productions confirmed to Variety that they accepted campaign funds, saying it covered "production costs."
